Angela Denise Kilgore.Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents have jailed a woman in Marion County they say killed the owner of Valley Pawn Brokers shop in Whitwell, Tenn., before setting fire to the business in May.
Angela Denise Kilgore, 51, of Sherrie Drive in Whitwell, is charged in connection with the death of 72-year-old pawn shop owner Jerry Don Ridge, according to TBI officials. Ridge's body was found May 17 after firefighters broke through a locked door and extinguished the fire at Valley Pawn Brokers on State Route 28. Ridge had operated the shop for the last 17 years.
Foul play was suspected early on.
Authorities say Kilgore killed Ridge during a robbery at the business and set fire to it "in an effort to destroy potential evidence in the case," TBI officials said in a release on the arrest.
A Marion County grand jury returned indictments on Monday charging Kilgore with first-degree murder, felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, aggravated arson, theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Twelfth Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor said the autopsy showed Ridge sustained a gunshot wound and stab wound before he and the business were set ablaze using some kind of accelerant. Ridge and Kilgore were acquaintances, but Taylor wasn't able to say how well they knew each other.
The only items missing from the pawn shop were weapons, Taylor said. Kilgore had already been in Marion County custody on weapons charges for some time when she was charged on the indicted offenses. Taylor said Kilgore had several weapons that were identified as coming from the pawn shop. No weapon had been matched to the killing as of Wednesday.
Kilgore also has a federal criminal record that was sealed by court order on May 19, 2016, just two days after the killing.
But federal court records still available online state that Kilgore pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, then on the same day was convicted in a one-day jury trial of attempted bank robbery and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Records state Kilgore also had a 1990 conviction for aggravated robbery in Marion County.
Kilgore was charged with trying to rob the Citizens Tri-County Bank in Dunlap on Jan. 20, 2004. Records state Kilgore entered the bank and demanded $500,000 in cash, telling bank employees "this is the way it's going to be," while patting a bulge in her waistband.
Kilgore then produced a briefcase but was told by the bank vice president the bank didn't have that much money on hand, records state. The bank official asked Kilgore if she would take a check for $475,000 and take the rest in cash. She agreed to the deal, but the bank official said she would have to fill out a loan application so the computer could create the check.
"Don't do anything crazy," records state Kilgore said. "You see those girls out there [pointing to the tellers]? I'll kill five people."
Then Kilgore told the bank official his family was in danger and that she had people waiting for her outside.
While Kilgore was filling out the paperwork, Dunlap police were notified and arrived quickly at the bank to take her into custody without anyone getting hurt, records state.
Taylor, who didn't know the details of Kilgore's federal case, said she could be in more trouble with federal officials with the new state felony charges against her.
Marion County Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett said he was "glad this case is going forward."
"And I'm sure the family is glad to see it go forward," he said.
Kilgore remains held at the Marion County Jail. She is scheduled for an arraignment in Circuit Court on Oct. 17.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.